Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (12.2000(2001))

TELL EL LARKHA

Our earlier conclusions concerning the
five main occupation phases of the western
kom,2) while requiring some revision, have
generally been confirmed.
A characteristic ceramic horizon and
typical architecture mark the oldest phase
linked to Lower Egyptian culture. It is
followed by a layer of a dozen or so
centimeters, still yielding Lower Egyptian
pottery, but no longer structures of any
kind. It could mean, although not
necessarily, a temporary abandonment of
the site. Lower Egyptian pottery continues
to be a characteristic of Phase 2, but
complemented already with Nagadan
forms. The same may be said of the
architecture, with structures typical of the
northern cultural sphere appearing right
next to mudbrick buildings that are
believed to be characteristic of settlers
originating from the south. This seems to
be a transitional stage, confirming the
coexistence of these two assemblages at
a time more or less contemporary with
Nagada IId2 (after W. Kaiser's chronology)
or else the beginning of IID2 (according to
S. Hendrick's system). It should be treated
as a terminal stage of Lower Egyptian
Culture in this region and at the same time
the earliest moment for the arrival of
settlers from the south. Phase 3 is already
fully Nagadan in character, dated by the
potsherds to Nagada IId2/IIIal-IIIa2(?) or
the end of IID2-early IIIA1(?). The
cultural tradition from the south seems to
have been fully adopted by then.
A prevalent set of vessels typical of Nagada
IIIa2 and Illb (IIIA1-IIIB) distinguishes
Phase 4, while Phase 5, identified in the
highest layers, is characterized by an
assemblage typical of transitional Nagada
Illb/IIIcl (terminal IIIB-IIIC1), that is,

the rule of the zero and early first
dynasties. As chronologically younger
pottery has been encountered only on the
surface in the part of the kom explored so
far, the putative suggestion is that the
western kom had already been abandoned
by the early First Dynasty.
In 2000 work concentrated primarily
on the oldest phases of settlement on the
site, that is, phases 1-3. The discovery of
structures that are unique in not just the
Delta, but all of Predynastic Egypt, has led
to a considerable modification of currently
held views on many issues. It should be
kept in mind, however, that because of the
monumental size of some of these
structures, big parts of the buildings still
remain unexplored. The ultimate descrip-
tion and interpretation of these complexes
will be possible only after more seasons in
the field.
At a depth of c. 2.10 m below ground
level (c. 5 m a.s.l.) a mudbrick structure
was outlined under two layers of deposits,
of which the bottom one was undoubtedly
a layer of burning with black, occasionally
red burnt soil and lighter ashes. On top of
this there was a layer of steel-gray clay,
varying in thickness from a few centimeters
in the south to over 20 cm in the north and
practically devoid of archaeological
artifacts. It provides indubitable proof of
the structure burning down at some point
and then being flooded by the Nile. The
building had at least two occupational
phases. To judge by the ceramic evidence,
the older stage started sometime at the end
of phase 2 and lasted into phase 3- The
later stage is to be dated to phase 3, while
the catastrophic fire and flood should
presumably be placed in the early part of
phase 4.

2) Cf. M. Chlodnicki, K.M. Ciaiowicz, PAM XI, Reports 1999 (2000), 61-68.

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